²⁰ “I do not ^(A)ask for these only, but also for those ^(B)who will believe in me through their word, ^21 (C)that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that ^(D)they also may be in ^(E)us, so that the world ^(F)may believe that you have sent me.

⁸ And God, ^(A)who knows the heart, ^(B)bore witness to them, ^(C)by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹ and ^(D)he made no distinction between us and them, ^(E)having cleansed their hearts ^(F)by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why ^(G)are you putting God to the test ^(H)by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples ^(I)that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we ^(J)believe that we will be ^(K)saved through ^(L)the grace of the Lord Jesus, ^(M)just as they will.”

¹² And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul ^(N)as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they finished speaking, ^(O)James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. ^14 (P)Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ^(Q)a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

¹⁹ Therefore ^(V)my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who ^(W)turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them ^(X)to abstain from ^(Y)the things polluted by idols, and from ^(Z)sexual immorality, and from ^(AA)what has been strangled, and from ^(AB)blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, ^(AC)for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

⁴ For ^(A)as in one body we have many members,^[a] and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, ^(B)though many, ^(C)are one body in Christ, and individually ^(D)members one of another. ^6 (E)Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if ^(F)prophecy, ^(G)in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if ^(H)service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; ^(I)the one who leads,^[b] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with ^(J)cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian

^9 (K)Let love be genuine. ^(L)Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ^10 (M)Love one another with brotherly affection. ^(N)Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, ^(O)be fervent in spirit,^{[c] (P)}serve the Lord. ^12 (Q)Rejoice in hope, ^(R)be patient in tribulation, ^(S)be constant in prayer. ^13 (T)Contribute to the needs of the saints and ^(U)seek to show hospitality.

^14 (V)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ^15 (W)Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ^16 (X)Live in harmony with one another. ^(Y)Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.^{[d] (Z)}Never be wise in your own sight.

¹⁹ So then let us ^(A)pursue what makes for peace and for ^(B)mutual upbuilding.

⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you ^(A)to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify ^(B)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Divisions in the Church

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers,^[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no ^(A)divisions among you, but that you be united ^(B)in the same mind and the same judgment.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, ^(A)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, ^(B)the law was our ^(C)guardian until Christ came, ^(D)in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus ^(E)you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as ^(F)were baptized ^(G)into Christ have ^(H)put on Christ. ^28 (I)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[a] nor free, ^(J)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(K)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, ^(L)heirs according to promise.

One in Christ

¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called ^(A)the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember ^(B)that you were at that time separated from Christ, ^(C)alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to ^(D)the covenants of promise, ^(E)having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were ^(F)far off have been brought near ^(G)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For ^(H)he himself is our peace, ^(I)who has made us both one and has broken down ^(J)in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ^(K)ordinances, that he might create in himself one ^(L)new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(M)reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and ^(N)preached peace to you who were ^(O)far off and peace to those who were ^(P)near. ¹⁸ For ^(Q)through him we both have ^(R)access in ^(S)one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(T)strangers and aliens,^[a] but you are ^(U)fellow citizens with the saints and ^(V)members of the household of God, ^20 (W)built on the foundation of the ^(X)apostles and prophets, ^(Y)Christ Jesus himself being ^(Z)the cornerstone, ^21 (AA)in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into ^(AB)a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him ^(AC)you also are being built together ^(AD)into a dwelling place for God by^[b] the Spirit.

^2 (A)complete my joy by being ^(B)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.